Carmichael could face two more years in court: QRC

Geoff has been working for the QT since August 2011 covering Ipswich’s rural areas. He started working for APN in January 2010 with the Chinchilla News in western Queensland after growing up on a grain farm. Geoff spends his time out of work watching far too much sport following the Reds, the Broncos and various American teams.

ADANI remains confident work on the controversial Carmichael mine will begin late next year after two court challenges to it were dismissed.

But the head of Queensland's peak resources body said the Carmichael mine could face another two years in court.

The Queensland Supreme Court on Friday dismissed legal challenges from environmental group Coast and Country and a native title challenge from Wangan and Jagalingou representative Adrian Burragubba.

In a statement after the decision Adani said they welcomed the court's ruling and continued to work towards starting work on the mine and the associated rail line to Abbot Point in the September quarter next year.

But Coast and Country spokesman Derec Davies did not rule out appealing this decision. Mr Davies said the court's decision showed Queensland's environmental protection laws needed to be overhauled.

"Today's decision follows poor assessment by the Queensland Government and only serves to reflect the poor legislation in Queensland to protect the environment,” he said.

"Make no make mistake, the Adani Carmichael coal mine and the burning of the coal from this mine will damage the Great Barrier Reef.”

Queensland Resources Council chief Ian Macfarlane said he believed the mine would go ahead but it could still face years of legal challenges.

"When is a case of how many more of these appeals is Adani going to have to go through,” he said.

"Currently they're estimating that the appeal process could take another two years to conclude. It's at what point during that process will they actually start spending more money on this mine with the confidence it will proceed due to constant legal challenge.”

Mr Macfarlane said the court's decision showed the mine's approval was based on evidence.

"It's a win for common sense, for good process and progress based on scientific fact, not rhetoric and emotion,” he said.

"It's a good day also for the workers of Queensland who are waiting on this mine to go ahead so that they can get jobs to support their families.”